Chevy Chase is back for more misadventures in the hilarious comedy Fletch Lives. After inheriting his great aunt’s estate in Mississippi, Fletch is framed for murder and has to uncover who’s behind it. Once again Chase delivers a great performance, though the character is a bit less edgy than in the previous film. Additionally, the sketches aren’t as organic; coming off as rather board and cartoonish. Still, the comedy’s really good and the mystery is involving. Fletch Lives is a lot fun and is full of laughs, but it doesn’t have as good a story as the original.
Fletch is a classic ‘80s comedy that’s outrageously fun and full of laughs. Chevy Chase stars as Irwin Fletcher, an investigative reporter whose exposé on L.A. drug smuggling takes a bizarre turn when he receives an unusual proposition from a wealthy businessman. The film is especially effective at using the type of SNL sketch comedy that Chase is so good at, and he gives a seminal performance that made Fletch into one of the most popular and beloved characters of his career. Additionally, the storytelling does an impressive job at building intrigue as Fletch’s investigation unfolds. Cleverly written and brilliantly executed, Fletch is a hilarious comedy that’s tremendously entertaining.
Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year is a delightful and whimsical feature full of the festive adventures of the Hundred Acre Wood. The first half of the feature is a recut version of Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too, and is followed by a second story about the New Year's resolutions made by the Hundred Acre Wood gang in order to prevent Rabbit from leaving them. The voice work is pretty good, and is fairly consistent with the established characters. Additionally, Carly Simon provides a charming soundtrack that's lighthearted and soothing. Yet there's nothing particularly inspired or original about Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year, making it a rather mediocre (but enjoyable) animated feature.
The Jewel of the Nile continues the adventures of romance novelist Joan Wilder, but this time in a more contrived and stereotypical action film. While sailing around the world with Jack Colton, Joan becomes bored with writing romance novels and accepts an invitation do an article on an African dictator who's about to united the tribes of his country, but soon after arriving at his palace she discovers that things aren't as they appear. Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito all return and slip quite easily back into their characters. But, this time the story is completely formulaic and takes itself too seriously; which drains a lot of fun out of the film. While The Jewel of Nile isn't as good as its predecessor, it's still entertaining and has its moments.
Director Robert Zemeckis delivers a fun and outrageous adventure in Romancing the Stone. When her sister is taken hostage in Columbia romance novelist Joan Wilder is forced to come up with the ransom, but after taking a wrong turn she ends up on a wild adventure with a treasure hunter. Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito form a great cast and deliver solid performances. The story is fairly well told, however the characters are a bit underdeveloped and there are some weaknesses in the plot. Still, the action sequences are impressive and exciting, and the comedy works quite well. Romancing the Stone is a thrilling action film that's tremendously entertaining.
"They called me Mr. Glass." M. Night Shyamalan delivers a bold new vision in the suspense thriller Unbreakable. When David Dunn walks away unharmed, the sole survivor of a train wreck, a mysterious man proposes an incredible theory to explain David's miraculous survival. Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson lead the cast and deliver outstanding performances. And the writing is excellent, especially in how it mixes genres and creates compelling characters. A unique and captivating film, Unbreakable is riveting and full of intrigue.
"Then it fell apart..." In an attempt to revive the Bourne series the mantle is passed to a new character in The Bourne Legacy. In the wake of Jason Bourne's escapades the military burns its own super spy program, but one spy is able to escape and goes on the run. Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, and Edward Norton form a solid cast and give strong performances. However, the directing is remarkably poor; it lacks focus and it isn’t able to maintain the suspense and intensity needed for an action thriller. Additionally, the writing is especially weak and inconstant, creating a convoluted plot that's hard to get invested in. The Bourne Legacy is a senseless and underwhelming sequel that delivers on the action, but that's all it does.
One of the greatest disaster films ever made, The Poseidon Adventure is an intense thriller that never lets up. In the middle of its transatlantic voyage the S.S. Poseidon capsizes on New Year's, leaving a small group of passengers to struggle for survival by climb through the bowels of the ship in an attempt to reach rescue. The all-star cast includes Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Shelley Winters, and Pamela Sue Martin. The set designs are amazing, and really give the sense of being in an upside-down ship. The special effects are also especially well done; enhancing the film by adding suspense and a sense of danger. The Poseidon Adventure is a compelling and ground-breaking film that set a new standard for the disaster genre.
Escaping the Poseidon turned out to just be the beginning as the story continues in Beyond the Poseidon Adventure. A small tugboat looking to claim salvage rights and a medical ship join forces to mount a rescue of possible Poseidon survivors, but things are not all that they appear to be. Despite having an interesting concept the story quickly falls apart and gets ridiculous. Another all-star cast has been assembled, and includes Michael Caine, Sally Field, Peter Boyle, Telly Savalas, and Slim Pickens. But the performances aren't very good, and the characters aren't that likable. Still, the action is shot pretty well and adds some intensity and excitement to the film. Beyond the Poseidon Adventure has none of the passion or charisma of the original, but it's entertaining at times.
Formulaic (but action-packed), Homefront is your stereotypical action hero film. Written by Sylvester Stallone, the story follows a former DEA agent who retires to the countryside to raise his daughter, but he soon runs afoul of a local drug runner. Starring Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, and Kate Bosworth, the cast is especially good. And it's this impressive cast that makes the film work, 'cause the material is fairly clichéd and by the numbers. While it's not very original, Homefront is a solid popcorn flick.
It's Jet Li vs. Jason Statham in War, an exciting martial arts action film. An FBI agent out for revenge pursues a notorious assassin named Rogue who's come to San Francisco to instigate a war between the Triads and the Yakuza. The storytelling is rather good, especially in creating suspense and intrigue. And, the fight sequences are particularly impressive. However, the characters aren't given much depth and seem more like stereotypes. While War is pretty much a typical revenge film, it's entertaining and has a good cast.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar is brought to the big screen in this most unusual adaptation. Shot as a contemporary play, a theater troop drives out into the Israeli desert and proceeds to put on a production of the Gospel Story. There are no real sets as it's all shot on location, and the costumes bare all of the trademarks of '70s fashion (from bell bottom pants to rose tinted sunglasses). And, there's a little bit of disco in the choreography. Yet this all ends up giving the film a bombastic energy that's a lot of fun. Plus, the music is incredibly catchy and has a lighthearted humor to it. Though it's a bit dated, Jesus Christ Superstar presents a unique vision and has a sort of kitschiness that makes it tremendously entertaining.
Ocean's crew reunites for one last con in Ocean's Thirteen. When one of their own gets scammed by a casino developer Danny Ocean puts the team back together in order to get payback, and to set things right. The story's fairly strong, and the Las Vegas setting returns the series to its roots. Still, the con's a little incoherent and the plot has some extraneous parts. Most of the cast from the previous films return, and are joined by Al Pacino; who makes for a terrific villain. Ocean's Thirteen is an improvement over the last film, but it's not as good as the original.
Jack Lemmon and James Garner star in the hilarious political satire My Fellow Americans. After narrowly escaping an assassination attempt former presidents and bitter rivals Kramer and Douglas team-up in order to expose a plot to cover-up a breaking political scandal. Lemmon and Garner are really good together and have great comedic chemistry. And the comedy is especially well-written, taking jabs at both political parties and lampooning modern political figures like Bill Clinton, Dan Quayle, and George Bush. Yet, at times the humor can get a little too silly and slapstick-ish. My Fellow Americans has some problems, but it's fun and delivers a lot of laughs.
Tom Hanks and Shelley Long star in the hysterical '80s comedy The Money Pit. The story follows a couple that buys a house together, and while at first they think it's a steal the place turns out to be a real fixer upper and tests their relationship. Hanks and Long are great together and give excellent performances. The comedy is also extraordinarily good and delivers some clever satire. Produced by Steven Spielberg, The Money Pit is a smart family film that's full of laughs.
A fun and entertaining spoof of the gangster genre, Johnny Dangerously pulls no punches. The story follows a kid named Johnny who joins a New York crime syndicate and rises to the top, but when his brother becomes a D.A. Johnny is forced to choose between his crime family and his blood family. Starring Michael Keaton, Peter Boyle, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner, and Danny DeVito, the film has a strong cast and they deliver some good performances. The slapstick and sight gags are also pretty well-done, though not all of the comedy works. The plot’s a little weak too, but as far as parody films go Johnny Dangerously is one of the better ones from the 1980s.
Joe Dante turns the Gremlins into f***ing clown shoes in the atrocious sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch. This time the film is all satire and goofiness...and no horror. The Gremlin designs are cartoonish and fake looking, lacking any sense of danger or terror. The performances are also pathetic, and don't even work in a campy, satirical way. And worst of all, the film tries to be meta, but it all falls flat. It's almost as if Gremlins 2: The New Batch was intended to undermine and lampoon the series, which it succeeds at brilliantly.
The Will Ferrell screwball comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is outrageously funny. Set in the '70s, the story follows a San Diego news anchor name Ron Burgundy who's at the top of his game, but his world is shaken when a spunky, headstrong female report joins the station's news team. Aside from Ferrell, the film stars Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, and Paul Rudd; who all deliver great performances that really makes the comedy work. Additionally, there's some hilarious spoofing of '70s American pop-culture. A better comedy than it has any right to be, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a lot of fun.
Based on the popular book series, The Maze Runner is an intense and suspenseful thriller. The story follows a group of young boys that find themselves wiped of their memories and sent into the center of a giant maze that's constantly changing. What the maze is and why the boys have been placed there is an enticing mystery, and the writing does an impressive job at setting up this world and creating intrigue. Additionally, the performances are fairly good, and the costumes and set designs have an interesting look and feel. However, there are some problems with the storytelling, as it seems a bit rushed at times with some random elements thrown in to add ambiguity. Though it's a little weak on story, The Maze Runner is an entertaining and exciting adventure.
A rote B-movie, Hunter Killer is a fairly entertaining yet mediocre action film. When a US submarine is sunk in Russian waters while conducting an exercise an emergency mission is launched to investigate and discovers that a rogue element in the Russian military is attempting to cease power and start a war. Starring Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman, Common, and Linda Cardellini, the film has a solid cast; however, their performances are rather weak. The writing isn’t very good either, as the plot is pretty outlandish and the dialog is kind of cheesy. And the CGI, though not bad, really sticks out and doesn’t blend well with the live-action scenes. Still, there are some exciting and intense action sequences. Hunter Killer has its moments, but it’s too ambitious for its own good.
Based on an incredible true story, 12 Strong is a compelling and inspirational war film. In the aftermath of the 2001 September 11th terrorist attacks on America an elite US Special Forces team is sent to Afghanistan to take out a Taliban strong hold to clear the way for American forces to launch their military campaign. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena, and William Fichtner, the cast is quite impressive and delivers strong performances. Also, the film does a good job at showing the culture clash and how the US soldiers had to adapt to a different form of warfare. And director Nicolai Fuglsig brings a lot of tension and energy to the battle scenes. The score as well is especially well-done and heightens the action and drama. 12 Strong is a powerful film about one of the first major US victories in the Afghanistan War.
Jason Statham takes one last drive in Transporter 3. After refusing a job, Frank Martin is abducted and forced to drive a mysterious woman to Odessa. While Robert Knepper gives a great performance and creates an intense and compelling villain, newcomer Natalya Rudakova is bland and doesn't have any chemistry with Statham. As usual, the stunt choreography is especially well-done; featuring a lot of dynamic and creative fight scenes. Transporter 3 is a predictable action film, but it still manages to be entertaining and a bit of fun.
Brian De Palma brings Mission: Impossible to the big screen in an explosive and action-packed adventure. Branded a trader when his team is killed during an intelligence operation, IMF agent Ethan Hunt goes rogue in order to clear his name. The plot's rather good, and does a fair job at building suspense and intrigue. Starring Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, and Ving Rhames, the casting’s pretty solid. And, the action sequences are shot especially well, adding a lot of energy and intensity to the film. Danny Elfman's score is also excellently done. Incredibly entertaining, Mission: Impossible is a fun and thrilling action film.
Mission: Impossible gets Wooed in this second installment of the franchise. Director John Woo takes the helm and ups the action to the point of nauseum. And, there's so much identity switching and uses of masks that this might as well have been called Face/Off 2. Tom Cruise is also a problem, as he makes it all about his character and showing off his action moves (to the detriment of the film). The style over substance focus even extends to Limp Bizkit's cover of the Mission: Impossible Theme, which is just noise. Still, a lot of the action sequences are impressive and shot well. For a mindless action film, Mission: Impossible II is alright, but it's a disappointing entry into the series.
"What is the Rabbit's Foot?" Writer/director J.J. Abrams delivers the most action-packed and intense Mission: Impossible yet in the third installment of the series. This time Ethan Hunt and his team go after a notorious arms dealer who's attempting to acquire a deadly biological weapon. The writing is especially good; making the missions elaborate and thrilling. The casting is also impressive, and includes Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Maggie Q, and Ving Rhames. Hoffman in particular does a fantastic job, and creates a deadly and formidable villain that's full of intrigue. And, the action sequences are dynamic and suspenseful. Arguably the best of the series, Mission: Impossible III is a smart and well-craft action film.
Ethan Hunt is back again in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol…the question is why? M:I-3 seemed to have tied the series up fairly well, but once again Hunt finds himself on another impossible mission to stop a rogue faction from launching a nuclear strike. The acting is pretty piss-poor (even by action film standards) and the special effects aren't much better. There are a few clever action sequences and some inventive high-tech devises, but the story is garbage. If not for Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg this film would be a complete waste; but Renner and Pegg add a lot of energy to their scenes and keep the story moving. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is uninspired and halfhearted, but it still delivers a high adrenaline adventure (mindless as it may be).
The fifth installment of the franchise, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation delivers an exciting, adrenaline-packed adventure. After the IMF is disbanded secret agent Ethan Hunt goes rogue in order to complete one last mission to expose a criminal syndicate of former spies turned mercenaries. Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, and Simon Pegg return, and are joined by Rebecca Ferguson and Alec Baldwin. And their performances are pretty good; particularly Ferguson, whose stunt work and fight scenes are especially well-done. Director Christopher McQuarrie also does an impressive job, and brings a lot of suspense and tension to the action sequences. Thoroughly entertaining, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is an explosive spy thriller.
U-571 is a thrilling and powerful war film from writer/director Jonathan Mostow. The story follows the crew of a US Navy submarine that is sent on a secret mission to recover an Enigma decoder from a disabled German U-boat. Starring Matthew McConaugey, Harvey Keitel, and Bill Paxton, the film has a strong cast. The writing is also rather good, and does an excellent job at creating suspenseful and intense battle scenes. Additionally, the directing is impressive and brings a lot of energy and excitement to the film. Well-crafted, U-571 is action packed and delivers an incredible high-seas adventure.
An exciting and riveting action film, Transporter 2 is a non-stop adventure. Professional driver Frank Martin takes a job as a chauffeur for a rich family in Miami, but when he's wrongfully accused of abducting their son he must go rogue in order to clear his name and save the child. Jason Statham delivers another excellent performance and is even better than he was in the first film. Additionally, the villains are clichéd, over-the-top characters in that good action movie kind of way. However, some of the CGI is poor and can be a bit distracting. But the action is so overwhelming and explosive that it makes up for the flaws. Despite some weakness, Transporter 2 is a fun and entertaining thrill-a-minute adrenaline rush.
Clearly out of ideas, Jurassic Park III tries to keep the franchise alive with cheap comedy and mindless action. In this installment the story returns to Dr. Alan Grant, who is recruited to go back to the Jurassic Park islands to rescue a child who has been accidentally stranded there during a parasailing accident. But before long, the film devolves into a creature feature; with random chases and meaningless dinosaur fights. And while some of the action is exciting, the insipid and lazy writing shines through and draws attention to the numerous plot holes. Good for a few thrills, Jurassic Park III is dumb fun at best.
